Performance Mods
 

Hey, any of you folks with ML550s do any performance upgrades: chip tune, headers, intake, blower, etc. My 2008 needs some added life.

Thinking of doing a ML63 catback exhaust and an aftermarket intake. Looking to try and get close to 400 horses.
Chip probably wouldn't do much since it's a N/A engine. Wonder if the headers from the ML63 would work?

eurocharged tune, true dual exhaust with highflow cats. I did that to my c55 and picked up quite a lot of power

Has anyone compared doing a cat back upgrade vs deleting the mufflers?

Tomorrow I'm removing the resonators. Don't expect anything from that. But it should sound sweet.

Let me know
 

Let me know if there is a difference in the interior noise, looking to do the same but I don't want it to create a lot of additional noise inside.

Did you do this? Was it difficult to do? My wife liked the sound of the Denalis we test drove but they were too big. Look for a little more growl from the motor.

Try this link on my Twitter feed.


I'll post impressions tonight. I got what I wanted.

Sounds legit. How's the cabin sound at highway travel? Is it loud at cruising speed? Or just during acceleration? Thanks.

Also, how long did it take you to do?

OK here is how I see it. If you want a subtle change this is the mod you want to do. If you want a drastic change the OEM cans/mufflers have to go and replaced with straight through cans.

At start up the tone is definitely deeper. But just when it starts up. Once at idle it sounds as it did before.

From a stop with 25%-50% on the gas pedal that's where you hear the most improvement in sound. Its a deep grunt & rumble. You will love it. I would say 20% increase in sound.

At WOT again it's louder. Not a deep grunt like described from a stop at partial throttle. It's a pitch louder. A GOOD louder. 10% Increase in sound.

At cruising speed on the highway or on any local road. Once the gas pedal is steady it's like you never removed the resonators. You would never know. It sounds just like it did before. Absolutely no cabin noise or droning.

I paid to much IMHO. But time and location was an issue for me. I paid $150. Just to much for 2 x 1.5ft of pipe and an 1.5hrs of work.

But oh well. I'm enjoying it.

Material for pipe
 

Did you have them replace the resonator with an aluminum or steel pipe and did it require any Mandrel bending?

Stainless steel. Just cut out the resonator and popped in two 1.5ft pipes. The ends of those pipes where expanded to slip over the stock pipes and then welded around the joints.

Thanks
 

Thanks for the update, have a local shop that will probably do it for cheap. Will stop by and see if they will use stainless steel or aluminum. The last time I had them do this for me on another car it was a 3.5" x 2' cutout and they only charged me $50 but that was many years ago and they used aluminum.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...5c40e08406.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...5bab03fafb.jpg

Here you go. Actually pics of what I did. Note the pipes have been put in place but not welded yet.

Thanks, that really helps. Is there an Oxygen sensor on the resonator? Any reason you didn't have it welded?

Weld the oxygen sensor or the pipes? I welded the pipes on. That's a fitment pic. Welded on the pipes and new hangers.

There is no Oxygen sensor going to the resonator.

Sorry, from the picture there looks like there is a sensor on the resonator that you had removed.

lo,l thats an exhaust hanger that you spotted!

Kudos. Sounds more serious. Owner enhancements is what makes a car more personal and fun to drive.

I have an observation that might help, albeit slight but the exhaust pipes forward of the cut outs have a section where the pipes come closer together. Replacing that as well with an X pipe or a true cross over could add some extra power and can quell popping sounds on decal as well as +mpg.
http://www.autoanything.com/exhausts...pipe-vs-h-pipe

I 100% agree. We brought it up. But I had No. 2 of 4 of my little men with me and we were both playing hooky and time would blow our cover.

But this is on the to do list.

Has anyone done a ML350 Bluetec?

it would be stupid to do performance mods on a bluetec and defeats the purpose wouldn't it.

I chipped my e300 turbo and it was the best decision I made. It was substantially quicker and my gas mileage improved. On the highway I would average 44 mpg.

Im not looking for vastly improved mileage, better proformance without trashing the motor. Dont trash diesels, tuned right and they're sleepers with great mileage. Would like to get a better growel out of the exhaust also.

in that case, maybe ask volkswagen to do it. apparently they know what they are doing :naughty: